Christmas Parades 2009 in Grand Rapids MI Area

This is the time of year when children young and old look forward to the excitement of Christmas. To start the season you can check out the many Christmas parades in the area. Here are some that you can attend in the Grand Rapids, West Michigan area.

One of the most anticipated holiday parades is the Grand Rapids Jaycees Santa Parade. This has become a community favorite and what better way to start the holiday season! The theme for this year Santa Parade is "A Storybook Christmas". The Jaycee's Santa Parade has been around for over 100 years and is the kick off for the Grand Rapids merchants' holiday season.

This year the parade date is for Saturday November 21^st and will start at 9:00 am downtown Grand Rapids. The parade will begin at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Avenue and will travel south on Monroe then turning left onto Monroe Center. It will then turn right on to Division Avenue, then right on to Fulton Avenue and left onto Market Avenue. Parking is free in the downtown parking lots until noon. At 10:15 the president of the Jaycees will present Santa with the key to the Children's Hearts at Rosa Parks Circle.

After the Santa Parade you can get your children's picture taken with Old Saint Nick at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in the Education Center until noon. The kids can vist with Santa and get a complimentary photo done. While you are there you might want to check out the Art Museum. Admission for the day is just $1.00.

Coopersville Santa Parade is somewhat different; this parade is held at night. This year's parade will be on Friday December 4^th and begins promptly at 7:00 pm. All parade floats, decorated fire trucks and vehicles will be competing for prizes. The parade goes down Main Street and Eastmanville Street.

You can park at the school campus and you can ride for free on the Coopersville Marne Railway Shuttle to the downtown parade route. After the parade you can take it back and visit with Santa and enjoy free refreshments.

Wyoming-Kentwood Santa Parade will be held on Saturday December 5^th starting at 10:00 am. The parade route will start at 3300 South Division to 4300 Division Avenue S. This is the third annual combined Wyoming Kentwood parade.

Rockford Santa Parade will be held on Saturday December 5^th starting at 11:00 am. This is Rockford's 66^th annual parade. The parade will begin at downtown Rockford and will end at 2 E Bridge Street. After the parade the kids can go and visit with Santa at the Rotary Pavilion.

Holland's Parade of Lights will be held on Tuesday December 1^st at 6:30. There are over 50 entries that will light up the streets of downtown Holland. The parade will begin at the corner of Eight Street and Colombia Avenue and continues down Eight street until it ends at Eight Street Market Place. At the end of the parade Santa will visit with the kids.

Downtown Holland will be having its Dutch folk tradition parade Sinterklaas Eve parade. Sinterklass (St. Nicholas) will be riding on his white horse though the parade on December 4th at 7:00 pm. The parade will be going though downtown Holland.

http://holland.org/events/5-parade-of-lights

http://www.grnow.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1973

http://www.santaparadegr.com/

http://www.coopersville.com/

http://www.southkent.org/

http://www.rockfordmichamber.com/events.php